Jessica Simpson is set to bring her personal journey to the big screen with a new documentary. Gunpowder & Sky announced on Tuesday, Sept. 10, that a multi-part film about the singer and actress is currently in production.
In a press release, Simpson expressed her excitement about the project. “I am very humbled to team up with Gunpowder & Sky and Van Toffler, who has been a longtime collaborator and supporter of mine, to make a documentary series that is entirely real, raw, and more personal than anything I have done before,” Simpson, 44, said.
The documentary will provide an intimate look into Simpson’s life, particularly focusing on her return to music after a decade away. Simpson’s memoir, Open Book, published in 2020, revealed deeply personal aspects of her life and resonated with many readers. Simpson noted in the release that the upcoming documentary will build on the themes explored in her memoir.
“In releasing my memoir, Open Book, I was moved to learn just how much people saw themselves in my story,” she said. “I am ready to share a lot that has happened in my life since that book was published, including an artistic journey and return to music inspired by pain and betrayal as well as beauty and forgiveness. I am looking forward to reconnecting and sharing my heart with all those who might need it in the hope that we can inspire each other and move forward on our parallel journeys.”
The documentary will offer an unprecedented look into Simpson’s personal life, featuring private moments and revealing highs and lows that have not been publicly shared before. It will include interviews with those closest to Simpson and provide behind-the-scenes insights into her career and personal life.
Among the topics covered will be the success of the Jessica Simpson Collection, which has become a billion-dollar global brand, as well as her religious upbringing, her experiences with divorce and abuse, and more.
Van Toffler, CEO of Gunpowder & Sky, praised Simpson’s courage and resilience. “Having had the pleasure of meeting Jessica while I was at MTV – during her burgeoning music career and amidst the tempest that surrounded her during Newlyweds – I’ve seen her bravely wear her heart on her sleeve and punch back with unyielding honesty,” Toffler said. “Her journey, like most great novels, has seen the highest peaks and profound valleys, yet through it all, she has persisted and flourished. It’s a privilege to collaborate with her in telling her story.”
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A release date for the documentary has not yet been announced.
Simpson hinted at her musical comeback in a November 2023 interview with Footwear News. She discussed her creative process, saying, “It’s like a retreat for me. I get to just crawl up inside my head and embrace my heart. I feel so enlightened there.”
The singer revealed that creating music has become a therapeutic experience for her. “Writing music has become a beautiful therapeutic thing for me that I didn’t know was so natural, but it’s because I haven’t done it in so long,” Simpson said.
Simpson’s last full-length musical project was the holiday album Happy Christmas, released in 2010. Her most recent non-holiday album was Do You Know, released in 2008.
The forthcoming documentary is expected to delve deeply into Simpson’s personal and professional life, offering fans a comprehensive view of her journey over the years. With her return to music and this new documentary, Simpson is poised to share new facets of her life with the public, continuing her evolution from pop star to a deeply reflective artist.
